One of India’s largest rural sports festival, Isha Gramotsavam, concluded its grand finale at the 112-ft Adiyogi at the Isha Yoga Center, Coimbatore on Monday.“Every rural game represents not just the village, but the whole of Bharat. This is the soul of Isha Gramotsavam, showing us the journey from village to world,” said Union sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya. “I came to Isha Gramotsavam to learn from Sadhguru how he organised an event at this scale.”The 17th edition of the festival spanned 183 locations over two months, featuring 63,220 participants, including over 12,000 women players. The festival reached Odisha, alongside Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, and the Union Territory of Puducherry. A total of 5,472 teams from more than 35,000 villages took part.The finale was attended by Sadhguru, sports minister Mandaviya, badminton star Saina Nehwal, Chess Grandmaster Vaishali Rameshbabu, and para-Olympian Bhavina Patel. Furthermore, Mandaviya expressed his interest in signing an MoU with Isha Foundation to support rural athletes.“It is my commitment that by 2028, Isha Gramotsavam must be in all the 28 states of the country. It’s not about the sport but essentially to reignite, rekindle a different level of life in rural India,” said Sadhguru. He added, “If our population is strong, vibrant, competent and inspired, we can be the greatest miracle on this planet. If there is playfulness, you can carry even an empty stomach joyfully.”The finale saw close competitions, with Badgannauru from Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka winning the Women’s Throwball title and Team Uttamasolapuram, Salem district, Tamil Nadu claiming the Men’s Volleyball championship. Champions received Rs 5 lakh each, runners-up Rs 3 lakh, while second and third runners-up won Rs 1 lakh and Rs 50,000. A para-volleyball match highlighted the determination of differently-abled athletes.The festival also celebrated rural culture with 2,000 women performing Tamil Nadu’s Valli Kummi, along with Kerala’s Panchari and Chenda Melam, Telangana’s Kusadi dance, and Karnataka’s Puli Vesham. Visitors explored over 30 stalls offering traditional South Indian cuisine.Saina Nehwal said the atmosphere felt like a full cricket stadium and praised the festival for teaching important lessons for India’s sporting culture. Vaishali Rameshbabu said, “Sports go beyond winning or losing — they teach us to grow, accept victory and defeat with equanimity, and stay calm in challenges.” Bhavina Patel added, “The body is just one part, and the real disability lies in not using the mind.”Isha Gramotsavam was launched in 2004 by Sadhguru. He urged, “We want everyone of you to stand with us to take Gramotsavam to all the states and union territories of Bharat by 2028. Let’s make it happen.” Go to Source
